Meditation brings clarity and positive attitude

In today’s rushed world with its many stresses and challenges, meditation becomes a powerful tool of coping.

To say that our lives are rushed and stressful will be stating the obvious. As our ambitions grow, so will life’s trials and tribulations. The question then becomes not of how to slow-things down but of how to deal with the challenges that life throws at us. And time and again, meditation has proven to be a powerful tool in reining in the daily drama.

Meditation – The awareness of ‘Now’

Meditation is the art of bringing your mind to a state of ‘stillness’ or ‘emptiness’ – free of all thoughts, emotions, events to just experiencing the ‘now’ moment.

Sounds complicated, doesn’t it?

In simpler terms, it is a state of ensuring attention on any one thought, moment or idea. Many prefer concentrating on God due to various associations and emotional attachments, while others may think of any calming thought. Irrespective of what you concentrate on, it is all about bringing your complete attention to the ‘now’ – leaving everything else behind – be it internal or external.

Meditation made easy

Contrary to images of sages and ascetics spending years in the Himalayas, meditating isn’t at all tough to get going. There are many kinds of meditation. Some of the popular ones include transcendental, chanting, drumming and chanting, movement meditation, creative visualization, yoga techniques or even a pure dance form. All of these methods involve various paths to attain the goal of complete attention or focus on one object/idea/posture, leaving the entire world behind and encouraging a state of internal awareness.

One of the simplest ways to meditate is to first sit in an erect position. Bring complete attention to your breath. Count up to 10 and repeat. It might be tough in the beginning and it is very natural to get distracted. The trick is to simply bring back your attention. No stress, no guilt, no nervousness, no anger – simply re-instruct yourself. Starting with about a min a day is also a great beginning. Soon, you may be able to extend that time without any effort.

Beneficial or Mumbo-Jumbo?

Meditation has many benefits:

Daily practice helps you with clarity and developing a positive attitude

It improves your ability to concentrate and inculcates a problem-solving outlook

It helps you maintain or restore your calm, composed state quickly

It also ensures your decisions are made out of a rational state of mind and not a charged one.

It brings you peace of mind

This time spent with yourself helps you to take a break from the hustle-bustle of life

The list of benefits for meditation is endless. It is gaining popularity – be it at school, college,amongst the older generation, housewives or working individuals.

But like they say– it is always better to experience it to believe it. Happy Meditating.